One of the best things about being a professional athlete is that we can take so many of the lessons we’ve learned from our coaches throughout the years and pay it forward to younger players that are trying to follow in our footsteps.

As you continue your athletic endeavors, “leveling up” takes a lot of work and discipline. Whatever sport you’re playing, you have to stay focused on those skills and be prepared to take advantage when a door opens for you.

Now that I’m in my sixth NFL season, I’ve been reflecting on what brought me to this point. As professional football players, my teammates and I are very fortunate to do what we love. When we meet fans, the most common question we get asked is, "how did you get where you are?”.

Brought to you by Dairy MAX, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Dairy Council, funded by dairy farming families across Colorado, southwest Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, western Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. For more dairy insights and programs tailored specifically for schools, nutrition professionals and dairy farmers, visit our corporate web headquarters, DairyMAX.org.